NASA Spacecraft Spots Florida Wildfire

The Espanola wildfire had consumed more than 4,300 acres when the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument aboard NASA's Terra spacecraft acquired this image on June 16, 2011, over Flagler County, Fla. No evacuations were underway as firefighters worked to control the blaze. Weather changes have caused fire crews to call for reinforcements as the fire spread. The ASTER image covers an area of 12.3 by 16.8 miles (19.8 by 27.2 kilometers), and is located at 29.4 degrees north latitude, 81.3 degrees west longitude.

With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched Dec. 18, 1999, on Terra. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and data products.

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